Filling machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1939 K 7 4 v Q. 8 5 5 /1 j m w l/ 8 8 5 3 5 5 a n 1 v u 2 u 5 i 4 M a, W. m I 1! 01 Z w ,1, w 4 2 2 U. 2 5 -9 3 v w a H M m a g April 21, 1942. H. D. AYARS FILLING momma Filed Jan. 17, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill INVENTOR. HHRRYD. fly/1R6.

ATTORNEY.

April 1942. H. o. AYARS 2,280,614

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17; 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR.

BY HER]? 2D. gay/is, ATTORNEY.

April 21, 1942. H. D. AYARS 2,280,614

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HH/PRYD flYHRS,

ATTORNEY.

April 21, 1942- 1-1.0. AYARS 2,280,614

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1939 S'Shqets-Sheet 5 i /2/ a I23 m2 /2 [Z8 INVENTOR.

Patented A r. 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE FILLING MACHINE Barry D Ayars, Philadelphia, Pa. I .Application January 17, 1939, Serial No. 251,284

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a filling machine, and has special reference to that type of filling machine for depositing predetermined quantities of readily fiowable material into receptacles.

The invention is primarily intended for depositing predetermined quantities of liquids into receptacles, but it may be employed for depositing dry materials in granular or pulverizedstate where the materials are adapted to ready flow through an orifice.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a filling machine wherein accurate amounts are deposited into each receptacle, and wherein there will be no drip or overhang from thesource of supply when the means controlling same has been closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling machine in which the means controlling the deposit oi material is closed by the weight of the material in the receptacle being filled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filling machine in which the flow of material into the receptacle is reduced after the receptacle is partially filled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a filling machine in which the material will not be splashed or sprayed from the receptacle at any time during the filling of said receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a filling machine which, when employed for depositing liquids into receptacles, will "give the liquid in the receptacle a rotary or swirling motion when the receptacle has been partially filled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filling machine wherein the receptacle to be filled is accurately located beneath the filling means to prevent any discharge outside the receptacle.

According to the invention the filling machine has supply means comprising a hopper, means governing the filling of a receptacle from said hopper, means for opening said governing means, and electrical means for closing said governing means. The governing means may consist of a valve having a stationary disk and a movable disk, said disks having openings which may be brought into full registry, partial registry or out of registry. The receptacles to be filled may be supported on pivoted means whereby when the weight of material in the receptacle has reached apredetermined figure, an electrical switch is for instantaneously closing the valve means.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the comlete machine,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken v operated to close a circuit in which there is means on the line 2-2 of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 3 is an enlarged partialvertical sectional view through a single station, and shows the relationship of the parts at the beginning of filling a receptacle,

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the mechanism when the receptacle has been partially filled,

Figure 5 is a like view showing the position of the parts after the receptacle has been completely filled and the electrical mechanism has operated for entirely closing the filling valve,

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of one of the valves employed,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the same in reverse position, and taken on the line l-l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of one of the valves, and includes a section showing the relation of adjacent orifices in the valve disks at the time the machine is operating in accordance with Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a like view with a detail section showing the position of adjacent orifices when the valve is closed, and in the position shown in Figure 5,

Figure 10 is a top planview of the switch employed for closing the electric circuit to close the filling valve, and shows the switch casing in section,

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the switch showing the closed position of the make and break arm in dotted lines, and

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit and operating parts.

Referring now to Figure 1, the filling machine is provided with a base I6 on which is mounted a stand ll. This stand is provided with bearings l8 and I9 through which a hollow shaft 2| extends. This shaft is provided at its lower end with means for rotating same, and, in the present instance, is shown as a worm gear 22, although it will be understood that the shaft may be operated by means of a pulley or it may be direct connected to propelling means. The top of the stand ll, is provided with a raceway 23, while a table 24 has a raceway 26, and ball bearings' 21 rest between these raceways, so that said table is freely rotatable on the said stand. The table 24 is fastened to the shaft 2| by any suitable means, such as plates 28, which extend into milled slots 29 on opposite sides of said shaft, and which said plates are secured to the table by bolts 3 I.

The table is provided with a series of stations comprising receptacle supporting means 32, which are pivotally mounted, as at 33, and with a switch 34, which will be later described.

The upper end of the shaft has its opposite sides milled, as at 33, and is provided at its upper end with a plate 31 with a reduced portion 38 extending into the interior of said, hollow shaft. A hopper 39 is adjustably mounted at the upper end of said shaft by means of the following mechanism.

The hopper has a central inverted cup 4! flanged at 42 and fastened to the bottom of said hopper. The cup base has a threaded opening 43 throughwhich the screw 44 of a hand wheel 48 passes, and the end of said screw bears directly on the plate 31, so that upon the turning of the hand wheel- 46, the hopper may be raised-or lowered with respect to the table 24. The bottom of the hopper is provided with a series of openings 41 leading into valves 48. These valves are in number exactly the same as the stations comprising the receptacle supports 32 on the table 29, and each valve has an operating link 99 connecting the armature 55 of a solenoid 52. Side plates 48 are fastened to the bottom of the hopper against the milled sides 36 and fastened by bolts 48 so that said hopper will be turned with the shaft.

The stand I1 is provided with an arm 53 which has a forked part 54 which, in turn, is connected to a vertical support 56 through a slotted connection 51. This support 56 carries valve operating means 58, which will be later explained.

When the position of the hopper 39 is changed with relation to the table 24, the vertical support 56 will accordingly be adjusted in the fork 54 and secured in position by means of the wing nut 59.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be noted that the receptacle A is Just beginning to be filled,

and that the receptacle supporting means 32 is at a slight angle to the horizontal,-which is caused by virtue of the weight 6| on the arm 62 extending out from the pivot 33. At this time, the switch 63 has its make and break arm 64 elevated, and in the position shown in the dotted of a spiral spring 69 is fixed, while the other end of said spiral spring is fixed on a post 1|. The make and break arm 64 is provided with a contact 12 for making connection with contact arms 13 when the switch is in the position shown in the full lines in Figure 11. The arm 62 (see Figure 3) is provided with an extension 14, which has a lost motion slot 16 surrounding a pin 11 on the stirrup. The switch 63 is so constructed that when the same is in open position, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 11, the spring will have its center extending along the dot and dash line 18, so that it will be slightly below the pivotal support 86 of the make and break arm.

The vertical support 55 is provided with a pad 19 having an arm 8| pivoted thereon at 82. This arm has connected thereto a link 83 which is fastened to the lower end of a rocker arm 84. The rocker arm is pivoted at 86, and its upper end is forked, as at 81. This fork encompasses a. pin 88 on a reciprocating bar 58 mounted in a housing 9|. The bar has a spiral spring 92 fastened to same by its one end-while the other end of said spring is connected to the stationary extension 93 on the vertical support 56.

The valve 48 is cup-shaped providing a well 94 bottom 96 and flush with the lower face of the movable disk 98, where it is provided with a washer IOI, and with a machine bolt I82 for securing the parts together. The upper end of the stud 99 is provided with a washer I83 and bolt I84, while a spiral spring I86 extends between said washer and. the upper face of the disk-shaped bottom 96, so as to hold said disks in close operating relationship. The faces of these disks are lapped and ground, so that there is no possibility of any leakage between the same, and the movable disk 98 is provided with openings I81, which areslightly larger than the openings 91 in the disk-shaped bottom, and which are intended to register with said last-named openings when the valve is completely opened. The material around the lower part of the opening in the movable disk is cut away to provide a countersinking tilt. while a well or circular ring W9 is cut into the face of the movable disk around each of the openings I81 for the purpose hereinafter explained, the angle of the countersink i189 being such that streams issuing therefrom obliquely will not contact the side of the well 589.

The movable disk 98 is provided with an arm Ill, which is pivotally connected to the link 49, extending outward from the armature 5| of the solenoid 52. The movable disk 98 is also pro vided with a lug N2, the purpose of which will be explained in connection with the operation of the machine.

The body 48 of the valve is provided with hearing member H3 having a shaft II4 on which a pinion H6 is mounted. This shaft is also provided with an operating finger I II, which is positioned on said shaft, as desired, and secured by virtue of the set screw H8. The pinion H6 operates in a rack H9 on the movable disk 98, so that upon the turning of the operating finger II 1, the movable disk 98 will be rotated with relation to the valve body 48 and the relationship of the openings 91 in the disk-shaped bottom of the valve and the openings I81 in the movable disk be changed.

Figure 12 shows the solenoid with a plate I2I at the outer end of same. This plate is provided with brackets I22 and I23, the former of these supporting a pin I24 which is urged inward by a spiral spring I24. The bracket I23 is provided with means I26 for supporting a pair of contact arms I21 and I28. The pin I24 is of non-conducting material and extends through the contact I21, and when pushed outwardly by the armature 5| of the solenoid will separate the contacts on the arms I21 and I28.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, the stand I1 is provided with arms I29 which have vertical extensions I3I adjustable in height by virtue of the slots I32 and wing nut I33. These vertical extensions I3I support an arcuate rail I34 which has openings I36 for positioning a bracket I31. This bracket is provided with an adjustable lug I38. It will, of course, be understood that this bracket may be placed in any of the openings I36 which may be as closely related as desired.

No special devices have been shown for feeding the receptacles to and from the supporting means 32. as any of the prior art devices may be employed for this purpose.

The operation of the filling machine will be readily understood by reference to Figure 2 in connection with the other figures-of the drawings. Let us suppose that the receptacle in the aceaeis form of the can A is fed to the supporting means 32 at the position B. This supporting means is a substantial triangular platform having upstanding side members I39 between which the receptacle should be properly nested. Let us suppose that the machine operates in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2. When the receptacle is fed to the supporting means 32, the weight 6| is in its lowered position, such as shown in Figure 3. The switch 63 has its make and break arm 64 in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11, or in the position shown in Figure 3. The valve disks have their adjacent openings in the position shown in Figure 9.

As the station carrying the receptacle A arrives at the point opposite the vertical support 56, the receptacle will strike against the arm 8| nesting the receptacle firmly in position against the upstanding side members I39, and

at the same time will operate the link 83 causing the rocker arm 84 to move the slide bar 58 into the path of the lug H2 on the movable disk 98 of the valve, thereby turning said movable disk to bring the openings 91 in the disk bottom 58 of the valve into full registry with the openings 101 in the movable disk 98. as shown in Figure 7, and cause streams of material C to fall directly into the receptacle A.

as shown in Figure 3. This movement of the movable disk 98 will also cause the arm III to pull the link l9 connecting with the armature 5|, and, therefore, draw the armature forward to the position shown in Figure 3. The drawing forward of the armature allows the spiral 1 spring I24 to operate the pin I'M" so as to close the contacts I21 and I28. As the receptacle A continues in its course in the direction of the arrow of Figure2, the finger H1 on the shaft H4 will strike against the adjustable lug I38 which will turn said finger and consequently the pinion lli meshing in the rack H9, and. therefore, bring 'the valve openings 91 and H15 into partial registry, as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 4 shows the lug I38 striking the finger cation of the weight 6| on the arm 62. such weight will be overcome. and the receptacle support will fall into the position shown in Figure 5 raising the weight 6|. The raising of the weight will also raise'the arm 14 on the arm 52. However. it must be remembered that the spring 69 has been just over dead center, and. therefore. the lost motion slot IS in the arm 14 will permit it to rise until the lower part thereof strikes against the pin 11.

places tension on the spring @2 3, and kicks the contact 625. outward from the contact 82?. thereby opening the electric circuit.

The switch here shown and described is of the instant make and break type. and is especially designed for use with this particular type of machine, although it may be found useful in other fields where a make or break of the type here shown is required. This switch has been found so accurate that it will operate to close the cir cuit and cut off the supply to the receptacle withina tolerance of three grams.

The particular formation of the openings or lower face of the movable disk 98 is especially designed to prevent any dripping or overhang of liquids when the valve is closed. By reducing the land in proportion to the orifice, it makes the capillary attraction of the body of the hole when closed greater than the pull of gravity on the quantity of liquid left in the orifice. The hollow well around the outside of the orifice prevents capillary attraction between the orifices. that is capillary attraction from one orifice to the other.

This machine has been found in actual practice to fill receptacles with liquids of different viscosities. so that when a number of said receptacles have been placed one by one upon, prewhereupon said spring will snap the make and break arm N downward, so that the contact 12 will engage the contacts 13, and since the contacts I21 and 12! were closed, it will close the electric circuit and energize the solenoid 52. thereby pulling the armature into the solenoid. so as to pull the link I! attached to the arm H I of the movable disk SI of the valve-and draw the same immediately to its closed or cut-oif position, and as shown in Figure 9 of the drawing.

As the solenoid reaches the end of its stroke, it strikes against the inner end of the pin 124*,

cision scales no appreciable difference in weight can be detected between them.

The machine has been operated over considerable periods of time without the splashing of a single drop of liquid onto any part thereof or the floor surrounding same.

Of course. the filling machine illustrated and described herein is susceptible of various n1odificaiions and changes in design and construction without departing from the inventions hercinset forth and hereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A receptaclefilling machine comprising supply means, a valve governing the filling of a receptacle from said supply means, said valve having a stationary part and openings therethrough and a rotatable part with openings extending therethrough and adapted to register with first mentioned openings. means for rotating the rotionary and a movable part for governing the filling of said receptacle from said supply means. each part of said valve having a plurality of openings adapted to bcaligned and disaligned. said valve parts providing means for discharging a plurality of streams vertically and obliquely, mechanical means for aligning said openings. mechanical means for partially disaligning said openings to reduce the flow of liquid from said valve and cause the streams to discharge from the valve into the receptacle obliquely. and electrical means for disaligning said openings.

3. A receptacle filling machine comprising supply means, discharge means embracing a fiat outer surface having openings-communicating with said supply means, a rotatable part engaging with said flat surface and having openings extending therethrough and adapted to be aligned with said first openings, means for rotating said rotatable part to fully align said openings, other means for partially disaligning said openings,

for partially disaligning said openings, and a switch operated by the filled receptacle for closing an electrical circuit, said circuit including means for fully disaligning said openings.

5. A receptacle filling machine comprising supply means, discharge means embracing a fiat outer surface having openings communicating with said supply means, a rotatable part engaging said flat surface and having openings extending therethrough and adapted to be aligned with said first openings, means for rotating said rotatable member to fully align said openings, other means for partially disaligning said openings, and a switch operated'by the filled receptacle for closing an electrical circuit, said circuit including a solenoid having an armature connecting said rotatable part for fully disaligning said openings.

6. A receptacle filling machine comprising supply means, discharge means embracing a fiat outer surface having openings communicating with said supply means, a rotatable part engaging said flat surface and having openings extending therethrough and adapted to be aligned with said first openings, means for rotating said rotatable member to fully align said openings, other means for partially disaligning said openings, a switch operated by the filled receptacle for closing an electrical circuit, said circuit including a solenoid having an armature connecting said rotatable part for fully disaligning said openings, and a second switch operated by said armature for opening said circuit.

7. A receptaclefilling machine comprising a rotatable supply hopper, a plurality of weighing stations movable with said hopper and each of said stations being adapted to receive a receptacle to be filled, a valve for each station movable with the hopper controlling the filling of a receptacle from said hopper, said valve comprising relatively rotatable parts, each part having a plurality of openings therethrough adapted to be aligned and disaligned, and said valve parts pro viding means for discharging a plurality of liquid streams downwardly, mechanical means for shifting one of said valve parts to align said openings in timed-relation to hopper movement, me.- chanical means for shifting said one valve part to partially disalign said openings in timed-re-' stations movable with said hopper and each of saidstations being adapted to receive a receptacle to be filled, valve means for each station movable with the hopper including ashiftable valve member for controlling discharge of liquid into a receptacle from said hopper, mechanical means operable in timed-relation to hopper movement for shifting the valve member to full open position, mechanical means operable in timed-relation to hopper movement for shifting the valve member to partially closed position, and means operable independently of hopper movement responsive to the weight of liquid in the receptacle for shifting the valve member to fully closed position.

9. A receptacle filling machine comprising a rotatable supply hopper. a plurality of weighing stations movable with said hopper and each of said stations being adapted to receive a receptacle to be filled, valve means for each station movable with the hopper adapted to concurrently discharge a plurality of streams of liquid in the receptacle, each of said valve means including a shiftable valve member, mechanical means operable in timed-relation to hopper movement for shifting said valve member to full open position, mechanical means operable in timed-relation to hopper movement for shifting said valve member to partially closed position, and electrical means operable independently of hopper movement and responsive to the weight of liquid in the receptacle for shifting said valve member to fully closed position.

10. A receptacle filling machine comprising a rotatable supply hopper, a plurality of weighing stations movable with said hopper and each ofsaid stations being adapted to receive a receptameans for shifting said valve for partially dis-' aligning said'openings in timed-relation to the hopper movement, and means for shifting the valve for completely disaligning said openings responsive to the weight of the liquid in the receptacle, said openings being shaped so that when partially disaligned the streams of liquid will strike the liquid in the receptacle so as to cause a whirling motion therein.

11. A receptacle filling machine comprising a rotatable supply hopper, a plurality. of weighing stations movable with said hopper and each of said stations being adapted to receive a receptacle to be filled, a valve for each station movable with the hopper adapted to control the filling of a receptacle from said hopper, each of said valves comprising relatively rotatable parts, each part having a plurality of openings therethrough adapted to be aligned and disaligned, mechanical means for shifting the valve for aligning the openings in timed-relation to the hopper move- 

